Community faces tough decision

Published: Sunday, March 19, 2006 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 18, 2006 at 11:02 p.m.

The fate of a $140 million plan to revamp, upgrade and expand Terrebonne’s public schools is now in the School Board’s hands.

Last week, an advisory panel issued seven pages of recommendations, which head to the School Board for discussion Tuesday. Among highlights, the plan would:

Expand H.L. Bourgeois High so it serves ninth- through 12th-graders, a good plan that has been discussed for years.

Expand Mulberry Elementary or build a middle school on the west-Houma school’s campus.

Build an elevated Little Caillou Elementary on the existing site and put Boudreaux Canal and Little Caillou students on a single campus.

Build a new school on the Montegut Elementary campus to accommodate students from Pointe-aux-Chenes Elementary, combining the two schools into one.

A second phase would expand or repair several schools throughout the parish.

We’ve already endorsed the concept of relocating some of the most flood-prone schools, the impetus behind the latter two proposals. And the concept of moving ninth-graders to H.L. Bourgeois sounds good, too, though, like the rest of the community, we’re still sorting through the details before deciding whether the current plan is the best way to go.

We still have lots of questions, and we’re hopeful the board will give the public ample opportunity to weigh in and shape the details before sending the proposal to voters. A couple of questions that arise now:

Most board members have expressed opposition to any plan that would change current school-district boundaries and force students from specific neighborhoods into a different school than they’re accustomed to. But members’ unwillingness to consider that option could result in some bad decisions about how to address overcrowding at some schools or anticipate population growth in certain parts of the parish.

For instance, it’s obvious, based on enrollment figures, that Mulberry Elementary is growing. But is building a middle school on that campus the best option? Or could the board save taxpayers money by redrawing the boundaries from which Mulberry gets its students and sending some to schools that might not have such an overcrowding problem?

We realize this is controversial -- parents and students have grown accustomed to certain schools. But failing to seriously consider those options is irresponsible to taxpayers, who may end up footing the bill for new buildings or classrooms that wouldn’t be necessary if the board would change school-district boundaries to handle population growth.

Building new schools would require changing district boundaries. Such changes require approval from the U.S. Justice Department, something neither the task force, the board nor its administration have addressed. Terrebonne remains under a federal court ruling that forced an end to racial segregation in the local public-school system in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Under that ruling, the parish is supposed to get federal approval for any plan to redraw school districts or build new schools in an effort to ensure racial equity.

It’s time for the board and its administration to confront this issue and determine what’s going to be necessary to ensure any building plan passes federal muster.

While the board has a lot to consider, the final decision will be up to voters. The board hasn’t decided what kind of taxes, property or sales, it will ask for, and the public shares responsibility for shaping this plan in a way that best benefits our community. Get involved now; don’t wait to try to understand what you’re voting on by reading the sample ballot posted on the door or your polling place.

While public involvement is critical, the board will need to exercise the responsibility voters entrusted them with when they were elected. The board will no doubt face emotional and impassioned pleas from parents who favor or oppose parts of this plan. But board members will have to find the fortitude to do the right thing, even when it might upset some. And that will be even tougher to do with fall School Board elections staring them in the face.

<p>The fate of a $140 million plan to revamp, upgrade and expand Terrebonne’s public schools is now in the School Board’s hands.</p><p>Last week, an advisory panel issued seven pages of recommendations, which head to the School Board for discussion Tuesday. Among highlights, the plan would:</p><p>Expand H.L. Bourgeois High so it serves ninth- through 12th-graders, a good plan that has been discussed for years.</p><p>Expand Mulberry Elementary or build a middle school on the west-Houma school’s campus.</p><p>Build an elevated Little Caillou Elementary on the existing site and put Boudreaux Canal and Little Caillou students on a single campus.</p><p>Build a new school on the Montegut Elementary campus to accommodate students from Pointe-aux-Chenes Elementary, combining the two schools into one.</p><p>A second phase would expand or repair several schools throughout the parish.</p><p>We’ve already endorsed the concept of relocating some of the most flood-prone schools, the impetus behind the latter two proposals. And the concept of moving ninth-graders to H.L. Bourgeois sounds good, too, though, like the rest of the community, we’re still sorting through the details before deciding whether the current plan is the best way to go.</p><p>We still have lots of questions, and we’re hopeful the board will give the public ample opportunity to weigh in and shape the details before sending the proposal to voters. A couple of questions that arise now:</p><p>Most board members have expressed opposition to any plan that would change current school-district boundaries and force students from specific neighborhoods into a different school than they’re accustomed to. But members’ unwillingness to consider that option could result in some bad decisions about how to address overcrowding at some schools or anticipate population growth in certain parts of the parish.</p><p>For instance, it’s obvious, based on enrollment figures, that Mulberry Elementary is growing. But is building a middle school on that campus the best option? Or could the board save taxpayers money by redrawing the boundaries from which Mulberry gets its students and sending some to schools that might not have such an overcrowding problem?</p><p>We realize this is controversial -- parents and students have grown accustomed to certain schools. But failing to seriously consider those options is irresponsible to taxpayers, who may end up footing the bill for new buildings or classrooms that wouldn’t be necessary if the board would change school-district boundaries to handle population growth.</p><p>Building new schools would require changing district boundaries. Such changes require approval from the U.S. Justice Department, something neither the task force, the board nor its administration have addressed. Terrebonne remains under a federal court ruling that forced an end to racial segregation in the local public-school system in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Under that ruling, the parish is supposed to get federal approval for any plan to redraw school districts or build new schools in an effort to ensure racial equity.</p><p>It’s time for the board and its administration to confront this issue and determine what’s going to be necessary to ensure any building plan passes federal muster.</p><p>While the board has a lot to consider, the final decision will be up to voters. The board hasn’t decided what kind of taxes, property or sales, it will ask for, and the public shares responsibility for shaping this plan in a way that best benefits our community. Get involved now; don’t wait to try to understand what you’re voting on by reading the sample ballot posted on the door or your polling place.</p><p>While public involvement is critical, the board will need to exercise the responsibility voters entrusted them with when they were elected. The board will no doubt face emotional and impassioned pleas from parents who favor or oppose parts of this plan. But board members will have to find the fortitude to do the right thing, even when it might upset some. And that will be even tougher to do with fall School Board elections staring them in the face.</p>